Background

Study UK is a global campaign that promotes the UK as the first-choice study destination to international students and their influencers. It is the UK’s only national-level campaign that showcases the UK’s outstanding higher education offering and the life-changing opportunities it brings. Study UK is led and delivered by the British Council in partnership with the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign. 

Our campaign is led by digital advertising and our aim is to raise awareness of the UK’s educational offering and to drive consideration and further engagement. Currently, our priority markets are China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and USA. Supporting activity ranges from talks, exhibitions and pre-departure briefings, to free online courses that attract thousands of participants to learn about the UK student experience. The GREAT Scholarships offer students the opportunity to  study one-year taught postgraduate courses at a wide range of universities, and  the annual Study UK Alumni Awards programme celebrates success stories of UK alumni from all over the world. 

As a key asset, we maintain the Study UK website, which provides comprehensive information about all aspects of studying in the UK. We also run a dedicated campaign newsletter. Our aim is to help international students make an informed decision on where to apply and how to prepare for a UK education. 

Impact

Launched in 2016, our campaign engages millions of individuals every year, driving up international student enrolment in the UK and the academic, cultural and economic benefits achieved through inward student mobility. In a 2023 Study UK survey of new international students in the UK, nearly three fifths of respondents (58 per cent) recognised Study UK. Of those who recognised the campaign, more than two fifths (43 per cent) recalled taking action after seeing it. 

Every year, the campaign generates thousands of direct leads for UK higher education institutions through the campaign's Course and Scholarship search. This search tool allows users to find courses, universities or colleges, as well as scholarships, based on their requirements, such as by subject, level of study, region of the UK, institution type, and nationality.

Engagement opportunities

With engagement from the UK higher education sector, we can have even more impact and help promote a UK education offer that is coordinated, attainable and unique, while still highlighting the diversity of the UK student experience. By engaging with the campaign, you can benefit from Study UK’s international profile to boost student recruitment. You can also showcase your institutions’ graduate outcomes, thereby further strengthening the UK’s reputation as a world-class study destination. 

Make the Study UK campaign work for you by taking advantage of the engagement opportunities below. All UK higher education institutions are warmly invited to join.

Instagram Takeovers

Arrange a one-day takeover of our Study UK Instagram

For more information, please see the brief in the downloads section below.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Share our range of free online courses with your contacts, including MOOCs for prospective students, recent graduates, and education advisors.

Prepare to Study and Live in the UK

This free online course allows incoming international students to familiarise themselves with the UK’s education system prior to their arrival, in addition to providing practical advice on the UK student experience. 

Why not encourage your incoming international students to register?

Link: www.futurelearn.com/courses/prepare-to-study-uk

Preparing for work

This free online course will help UK alumni and graduates boost their employability and career development. 

Share this great learning opportunity with your network of international alumni and recent graduates.

Link: www.futurelearn.com/courses/study-uk-preparing-for-work

Managing Your Wellbeing When Studying in the UK

This free online course will help international students navigate the intricacies of life and studies in the UK.

Please share this course with your international students.

Link: www.futurelearn.com/courses/managing-your-wellbeing-when-studying-in-the-uk

GREAT Scholarships

GREAT Scholarships offer students the opportunity to undertake postgraduate taught courses in the UK at a range of prestigious universities, as well as a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees.

Each scholarship is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with participating UK higher education institutions.

Visit our GREAT Scholarships webpage for more information.

Study UK Alumni Awards

Since 2015, our annual Study UK Alumni Awards have been celebrating the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni, showcasing the value of a UK education and its impact on individuals and local communities. 

Delivered in partnership with more than 140 UK institutions and in more than 120 countries, our Study UK Alumni Awards are a great opportunity to find and celebrate alumni success stories. These stories highlight your graduate outcomes, connecting you to more of your alumni and raising your international profile, with global audience reach of more than 100 million each year.

Visit our Study UK Alumni Awards webpage for more information, including how to nominate candidates.

Visual Assets

A range of campaign assets – including videos and images – are available if you would like to leverage the Study UK campaign in your own marketing initiatives to further boost your institution’s international profile. For any brand enquiries, please get in touch at GREATbrand@britishcouncil.org 

More information

For more information about any of the above activity or opportunities, please contact studyuk@britishcouncil.org 

If you would like to receive email notifications from the British Council about the latest news, events and opportunities in international higher education, including the Study UK campaign, please register for our Higher Education newsletter.

If you are looking for information for higher education providers, please visit the Opportunities and insight website.